Toronto is most expensive city to watch an NHL game: report

It's official! Downtown Toronto is the most expensive place in the world to watch a hockey game.

A U.S. betting website has tallied up the numbers and of the 32 rinks in the NHL, Scotiabank Arena comes out on top — or on their list, at the bottom — in terms of how expensive it is for a family of four or a group of friends to attend a regular season game in 2024.

"Maybe it’s due to [having] the second-highest payroll in the league or the sheer popularity of hockey in Toronto, but the Maple Leafs and Scotiabank Arena demand the highest price for a group outing, coming in at a whopping $748.30 (U.S.)," reports Freebets.com.

That translates to approximately $1,030 Canadian.

Toronto is often cited as having high costs because of its huge population, and being a centre for business and head offices, which often buy up tickets for staff and client perks. Perhaps it's appropriate the arena naming rights are currently held by a bank.

By contrast, other Canadian rinks fare much better in terms of affordability.

Four people can go to an Ottawa Senators home game at the Canadian Tire Centre for just $348.34 U.S. ($479.40 CAD). Ottawa offers not just the cheapest night out for hockey of all Canadian cities but in the entire NHL, according to the report.

In Calgary the cost comes out to $382 U.S. ($531 CAD); in Vancouver the cost is $420.53 ($585 CAD); in Winnipeg it's $435 ($605.50 CAD); in Edmonton it's $448 ($623 CAD) and in Montreal the cost is $527 ($733 CAD).

The website factored in the cost of tickets, hotdogs, beer, soft drinks, parking and a team hat.

The reigning Stanley Cup Champion Florida Panthers offer the lowest ticket prices at $48.64 U.S. per seat.

However, once you're inside, Scotiabank Arena treats you well, the website says.

"You can pick up a soda and a hot dog for a little under $15 CAD. Even if you can’t glide around the ice like Auston Matthews or Mitch Marner, you can do your best to look like them in your officially licensed Maple Leafs gear. A Toronto hat is the fourth-cheapest in the NHL at just $22.21 ($30 CAD)."

Have a spare $1,000 laying around for you and the family to catch an upcoming game? The Leafs, coming off a 6-4 win over Winnipeg, are playing a home game against the Seattle Kraken Thursday night at 7 p.m.